Demountable modular chase



July 21, 1964 J. H. WEINLAND 3,141,406

DEMOUNTABLE MODULAR CHASE Filed Aug. 1'3, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 1 10y 9' .i 50 64 .50 fig 62 Jg 5g 30 A. INVENTOR July 21, 1964 1. H. WEINLAND i DEMOUNTABLE MODULAR CHASE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l5, 1962 INVENTOR,

United States Patent O 3,141,406 DEMOUNTABLE MODULAR CHASE .Iolm H. Weinland, 1254 Columbia Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Aug. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 216,648 Claims. (Cl. 101-391) This invention relates to a printers chase; in particular, it relates to an improved, quickly mounted and quickly demounted chase adapted for short press runs.

In the printing art it is frequently necessary to make changes in copy for short press runs in printing such items as address labels, merchandise tags, and names and account numbers on bank check blanks. A sizable portion of the cost of printing such materials results from the delay in the press run occasioned by removing the chase from the press and inserting the changed material numbers or names in the chase, then inserting the chase again in the press and locking it into place.

An additional costly and very time-consuming delay is encountered using conventional printing equipment when new material is locked into a chase which must be aligned with type and copy already in the chase. Unless extra care is exercised to adequately compensate for small discrepancies in alignment of new material inserted into the press lock-up, adjustments which further increase the costly press shut-down time will be necessitated. Prior art devices in the main require removal of the entire chase from the press for each change in the copy or adjustment of a form. Still other inventions have been devised which permit the insertion of several lines of type without removing the chase from the press. One serious disadvantage of this latter kind of chase is the fact that the insertion of type into a chase while it is still in the press is dificult and awkward for the operator and results in numerous small adjustments in the lock-up to eliminate the discrepancies and the small misalignment which will result each time the chase is unlocked.

There is accordingly need for an improved printers chase which will permit rapid change of certain portion of the copy or make-up for adaptation to small or short press runs which will not disturb the alignment of the copy in the chase which is not subject to change and which will not require costly press shut-down time in order to elect the change in the copy.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved chase which is simple and relatively light in construction and may be readily and quickly removed from and inserted into and locked within the press.

It is another object of this invention to provide a chase incorporating improved features that permit rapid and easy replacement of forms without requiring removal of the entire chase from the press and insuring that each form when reinserted into the press will be in proper spaced alignment with other forms in the press and be securely fastened to the press bed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a chase having novel features which permit rapid and easy replacements of more than one section of the copy in a form independent of the other sections without removal of the entire chase from the press and insure that each form when inserted within the press will be in proper spaced alignment and securely fastened to the press.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be understood from the specic embodiments, specification, and claims which follow.

FIGURE 1 is a top plane view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1, showing my demountable chase locked in position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, showing the position of my demountable chase during the process of removing it from the press.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a fragment of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another fragmentary portion of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of still another fragmentary portion of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a tool which is utilized in connection with my invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section of a fragmentary view of my invention taken on line 8 8 as shown in FIG- URE 1.

In normal printing practice, type fonts are positioned within the interior of a printing press chase, spacing blocks and quoins are positioned about the type fonts to ill the space between the inner perimeter of the chase and the type, and the quoins are tightened to bind the whole within the chase so that it can be locked within the press. Change of any of the type fonts requires that the quoins be released, the desired type fonts changed, and then the chase again be locked by tightening the quoins. My invention provides a novel, quickly removed and quickly inserted modular chase which ts within a larger conventional sized chase, the combination of which may be locked up securely and be then ready for press run without disturbing the alignment of materials previously locked within the larger chase.

Referring now to the drawings, a printers chase of the kind adapted to be locked to the printing press bed, modied as is described below, is shown at 10. The chase 10 is a rectangular metal frame with parallel sides 12, 14, 16 and 18. The sides of the rectangular chase are rectangular in cross-section as shown in the drawings and have plane surfaces about the internal and external perimeters of the frame. The chase 10 has an upper plane surface 20 and a lower plane surface 22.

The chase 10 is modied from that of a conventional printers chase in that on opposite parallel surfaces 24 and 26 of the inner perimeter, tapered grooves 28 and 30 are provided. Grooves 28 and 30 are positioned so that the wide portion of the taper opens on the lower surface 22 of the chase and the upper surface of the chase is not intersected by the grooves.

Hemispherical recesses 32 and 34 are cut into the inner perimeter surface 24 of the chase. These two recesses are positioned in spaced relationship opposite the grooves 28 and 30.

A tapered recess 36 is cut into the upper surface 20 of the frame side 12. Recess 36 tapers downward toward the inner perimeter of the chase, and extends approximately half the depth of the frame side 12. This is readily seen by reference to FIGURES 5 and 9.

One further modification from the conventional chase is shown in the drawings as part of the illustrated preferred embodiment of my invention; however, it is not a necessary element of my invention in all embodiments thereof. A rectangular peg 38 is made an integral part of the chase and is positioned centrally and below the tapered recess 36. The guide peg 38 extends into the interior of the chase at the lower surface 22 thereof and serves as an additional positioning means or guide. On the parallel surface 26 opposite the surface 24 which carries the guide peg, two rectangular recesses 40 and 42 are positioned symmetrically adjacent the lower surface 22 of the chase and in spaced relationship to the tapered lgrooves 28 and 30. The rectangular recesses 40 and 42 are substantially identical iu dimensions although concave to that of the convex guide peg 3S. These two recesses 40 and 42 are provided to receive two guide pegs which will be described below in connection` with insertable portions of my chase.

My modular demountable chase is shown generally at 50 and comprises a rectangular metal frame 52 having sides 54, 56, 53 and 60. The sides 54, 56, 58 and 60 of the frame 52 are substantially rectangular in crosssection. A quoin 62 is permanently mounted by welds 64 to the inner perimeter of the frame 52 on the side 54. The frame 52 has an upper surface 66 and a lower surface 68 and, as is readily seen in the drawings, an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. The outer surface 70 of a side wall 56 of the frame 52 is provided with two cylindrical recesses containing coil springs 76 and '78 and at their open ends metal spheres Si) and S2. The spheres 80 and 82 are conveniently held from being ejected all the way out of the recesses by the fact that the lips of the recesses 72 and 74 are peened over to slightly reduce the aperture of the recesses after the springs 76 and 78 and the metal spheres Sti and 82 are inserted into the recesses. By this arrangement a springloaded snap latch is provided. The recesses 72 and 74 are positioned in spaced relationship to each other and to the symmetry of the frame 52 so that when the frame 52 is positioned within and coplanar to the chase It) the projecting spring-loaded spheres Si) and S2 will be juxtaposed and extend into the hemispherical recesses 32 and 34 on the inner perimeter of the side I2 of chase llt).

An elongated recess 84 is milled into the outer surface 70 of side 56 of the frame 52. The elongated recess 84 is approximately midway on the side 56 between the upper surface 66 and the lower surface 68 of the frame. The upper lip 86 of the recess 84 is broken and rounded, as may best be seen in cross-section view of FIGURE 9. The recess 84 is provided to accommodate a tool which is described below that facilitates rapid removal of the frame 52 from the interior locked position within the chase 10.

Opening onto the lower surface 68 and the outer surface 70 of side 56 of the frame 52 is a small centrally positioned rectangular recess 88. Recess S8 is positioned in spaced relationship with the symmetry of the frame 52 and is provided to receive the guide peg 33 which projects from the inner surface 24 of side 12 of the chase 10. The guide peg 38 and the recess 8S operate cooperatively to prevent any transverse motion of the frame 52 with respect to the chase when the demountable chase 50 is in locked position.

Referring now to the side 60 of frame 52, an outer perimeter surface 90 is provided with two tapered wedges 92 and 94. The wedges are in spaced relationship at the corners of the frame 52, which is best seen in FIG- URE 7. The larger portion of each of these tapered wedges terminates on the lower surface 68 of the frame 52 and the narrow portion of the wedges terminates on the upper surface 66 of the frame 52. The tapered wedges are of a slope and dimension to fit into and form a snug lit within the tapered grooves 28 and 3i) on the inner surface 26 of the side 22 of chase 10. FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate in cross section the relative positions of the tapered wedges 92 and 94 in the grooves 2S and 30 in both the locked in position, FIGURE 2, and in the process of insertion or removal of frame 52 from chase 10.

Guide pegs 96 and 98, which are rectangular projections extending outward from the outer perimeter surface 90, are positioned in spaced relationship and are adapted to fit into the previously described recesses 4t) and 42 provided in the inner perimeter surface 26 of the chase 10. These guide pegs 96 and 9S, when inserted into the recesses 40 and 4Z, prevent any transverse motion of the modular chase Sti within the larger chase Mi.

A guide plate 99 is rigidly fastened to the upper surface 66 of side 60 of the demountable chase 50 and ex- 4 tends over the edge thereof, as shown in FIGURE 7. The guide plate 99 assists in guiding the demountable chase into proper locked position during the insertion process.

The broad fiat recess 84 opening on the outer perimeter face 7@ of the demountable chase 50 is adapted to receive a tool 16) shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. The tool 100 is comprised of a handle 102, a fulcrum 104 and the tool head 166. FIGURE 9 illustrates in cross-section view how the tool head 106 is inserted into the recess 84 and by rotation of the handle 102 about the fulcrum 104, which rests on the tapered surface of the recess 36 in the chase It), the demountable chase 50 may be quickly removed from its locked position within the chase 10. Insertion of the demountable chase Stb into locked position within the larger chase I0 is accomplished by merely positioning the end or side 6ft of chase 50 in contact with the end or side 16 of the larger chase 10 and then, as shown in FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 2, depressing the chase Si) into a coplanar position with the chase It). The spring-loaded spheres Si) and 82 will automatically lock into the hemispherical recesses and force the tapered surfaces 94 and 23, and 92 and 30, together respectively. These actions prevent undesired longitudinal motion of the demountable chase 5i) with respect to the larger chase It), as well as hold the two chases in coplanar relationship until a relatively large force, such as may be exerted by the tool Ititi, lifts the inner chase 50 out of coplanar alignment with the chase Iii. The guide pegs 96 and 98 and their associated recesses 4t) and 42 further assist in preventing undesired relative transverse motion between the two chases.

The foregoing drawings and specification are intended to be merely illustrative of my invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An improved printers chase comprising the combination of a first rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side and having opposing parallel plane surfaces about an inner perimeter thereof; a second rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side, and parallel plane surfaces about the outer perimeter thereof, the second frame being adapted to fit within the first frame coplanar thereto; interlocking tapered means and spring-loaded means for holding the two frames in coplanar relationship, whereby the inner frame may be inserted into and removed from the outer frame by mechanically forcing the spring-loaded means and pivoting about the interlocking tapered means.

2. An improved printers chase comprising the combination of a first rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side and having opposing parallel plane surfaces about an inner perimeter thereof; a second rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side, parallel plane surfaces about the outer perimeter thereof, the second frame being adapted to fit removably within the first frame and coplanar thereto; grooves cut into one parallel plane of the inner perimeter of the first frame, said grooves being tapered with the larger groove section opening on the lower surface of the first frame, tapered lugs mounted in spaced relationship on a first parallel plane of the outer perimeter of the second frame, the taper being largest at the lower surface of the second frame and being adapted to fit within the tapered grooves of the first frame, spring-actuated means to bind the second frame within the first frame in coplanar relationship whereby the inner frame may be inserted into and removed from the outer frame by mechanically forcing the spring-loaded means and pivoting about the interlocking grooves and tapered lugs.

3. An improved printers chase comprising the combination of a first rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side and having opposing parallel plane surfaces about an inner perimeter thereof; a second rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side, and parallel plane surfaces about the outer perimeter thereof, the second frame being adapted to fit within the first frame coplanar thereto, spring-loaded means for exerting a coplanar force between the first frame and the second frame, and interlocking tapered lugs and tapered recesses on the second frame and first frame respectively; whereby the second frame is held in fixed relationship to the first frame by the action of the springloaded means and by the interaction of the lugs and recesses on the two frames respectively, and the inner frame may be inserted into or removed from the outer frame by mechanically forcing the spring-loaded means and pivoting the inner frame about the interlocking tapered lugs and tapered recesses.

4. An improved printers chase comprising the combination of a first rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side andhaving opposing parallel plane surfaces about an inner perimeter thereof; a second rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side, and parallel plane surfaces about the outer perimeter thereof, the second frame being adapted to fit within the first frame coplanar thereto; tapered means for positioning the second frame with respect to the first frame, spring-loaded means for retaining the second frame in rigid coplanar relationship within the first frame, whereby the inner frame may be inserted into and removed from the outer frame by mechanically forcing the springloaded means and pivoting about the interlocking tapered means.

5. An improved printers chase comprising the combination of a first rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side and having opposing parallel plane surfaces about an inner perimeter thereof; a second rectangular metal frame having an upper side and a lower side, and parallel plane surfaces about the outer perimeter thereof, the second frame being adapted to fit Within the first frame coplanar thereto; grooves cut into one parallel plane of the inner perimeter of the first frame, said grooves being tapered with the larger groove section opening on the lower surface of the first frame; hemispherical recesses in the second parallel plane of the inner perimeter opposite the grooves, and a tapered groove on the upper surface of the first frame above the hemispherical recesses and in spaced relationship to the grooves, the second frame having tapered lugs mounted on a first parallel plane of the outer perimeter thereof, the taper being largest at the lower surface of the second frame and being in spaced relationship to fit into the grooves of the first frame; cylindrical recesses in the second outer parallel plane coil springs and movably mounted metal spheres positioned in the cylindrical recesses, the cylindrical recesses being in spaced relationship to the lugs so that the spheres will project into the hemispherical recess within the first frame; a plane flat guide rigidly mounted to the upper surface of the second frame and extending beyond the outer perimeter thereof between the lugs, the guide being adapted to engage the upper surface of the first frame when the second frame is fitted within the first; and an elongated recess within the second parallel side of the second frame, and a tapered recess within the upper surface of the rst frame, the deeper section of the tapered recesses opening on the inner perimeter opposite the elongated recess of the second frame when the |second frame is inserted Within the first; whereby the second frame may be quickly removed from and securely replaced in alignment within the second frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,353,758 Karl Sept. 21, 1920 1,763,090 BuZZa lune 10, 1930 1,782,587 Stadler et al Nov. 25, 1930 

1. AN IMPROVED PRINTER''S CHASE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A FIRST RECTANGULAR METAL FRAME HAVING AN UPPER SIDE AND A LOWER SIDE AND HAVING OPPOSING PARALLEL PLANE SURFACES ABOUT AN INNER PERIMETER THEREOF; A SECOND RECTANGULAR METAL FRAME HAVING AN UPPER SIDE AND A LOWER SIDE, AND PARALLEL PLANE SURFACES ABOUT THE OUTER PERIMETER THEREOF, THE SECOND FRAME BEING ADAPTED TO FIT 